Published: Thursday, 13th November, 2008 17:00
Duberry facing uphill challenge
By Anthony Smith
Comments (0)
Print Article
Uphill task: Michael Duberry faces a tough battle to win his place back in the Reading team.
MICHAEL Duberry admits he cannot see an easy path back into the Reading team after making a full recovery from injury.
Ivar Ingimarsson and Andre Bikey have formed a formidable partnership in central defence and Duberry believes that ousting one of them will be a massive challenge.
But the ex-Chelsea star also knows that one of those centre-back spots could easily have been his had it not been for his horrendous bad luck with injuries.
The 33-year-old pulled a hamstring just days before the launch of the Championship season. He made his comeback against Luton Town in the Carling Cup, only to tear his calf muscle after a mere 20 minutes, and he has only managed a few reserves games since.
“It’s been a nightmare,” he revealed. “I had one of the best pre-seasons in years,then the week before the season started Lady Luck bit me in the bum.
“Then I came back for Luton and after 20 minutes my calf went. Me and Lady Luck need a little meeting.”
And he admitted: “The 11 playing at the moment are making it hard for anyone else to get in the team and I haven’t got a problem with that.
“Hopefully I can put pressure on Ivar and Bikey, but the goal for everyone is promotion. If me training well pushes them to raise their game and they keep their places and win promotion, so be it.
“Of course I’d rather play, but I’m prepared to bide my time. There is a lot of football to be played and I want to do my bit.
“There are photos around the place of the team getting promoted last time and I want to be part of that.”
Marek Matejovsky is in an almost identical position to Duberry. The Czech Republic midfielder damaged ankle ligaments at Nottingham Forest on the opening day and he only recently came back into the squad where he has had to settle for a place on the bench.
James Harper and Kalifa Cisse are the current first-choice pairing in central midfield and boss Steve Coppell also has Brynjar Gunnarsson and Jem Karacan to consider.
The £1.25 million signing said: “The team is playing well and I must wait for my chance. It’s probably better for me to play some games for the reserves to improve my fitness. But our first 11 is good now and I must wait.
“I want to play but I know that our results have been good and I have to wait for the manager to pick me.
“Our performances have been better than last season. We are playing well and I hope we will be promoted because the Premiership is better for everyone.
“There is more long-ball in the Championship and before the season started I was very, very worried. But now I feel better. Reading play good football and try and pass it around.”
Matejovsky did not make the Czech Republic squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier in San Marino next Wednesday and he explained: “I’ve spoken with the Czech manager but I need to play more games. I know I am ready to play and I want to be there but it’s up to the manager.
“It’s a qualifier in San Marino so maybe it’s a chance for the younger players to come in. There is Roman Bednar at West Brom and a very good player at Slavia Prague called Tomas Necid so I must wait.
“But my ankle is great so I will be ready for the Sheffield United game.”
Further Details
Lita in shock recall?